Saved To Serve
These seven lessons are geared to equip the believer for a lifetime of service unto the Lord. Salvation is simply the start of the servant life but it is not the end. The Christ who saves us, call us to serve Him through the indwelling presence of the Spirit. These lessons are important in understanding how the Lord has equipped and empowered us to accomplish what he has saved us to do - Glorify our Father which is in heaven.
When Jesus Christ saved us, He delivered us from living according to our human nature to serve in the power of His nature. The difference between the old human nature and the nature of Christ in us are as different as night and day. Ephesians 5:8 describes this exchanged life, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” If we are going to walk in the light of Jesus Christ there are a few truths we must understand.
The Human Nature....
...cannot please Christ because all that it is capable of producing in sin in the sight of God. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” The Scriptures are resolute in declaring man to be unrighteous and incapable of doing any good (Romans 3:10-12.) We need Christ in order to please Christ.
The Human Nature....
...is only delivered by Jesus Christ. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” Romans 5:10. This work of God is a work of love. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This exchanged life is only accessible by faith. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Nature of Christ....
...Indwells the believer revealing the riches of Christ’s glory in us. Colossians 1:27 says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Now through Christ we have the privilege of walking in the light.
Realities of the Exchanged Life
1. We do not have to continue to sin. Romans 6:1-2
2. The old nature has been crucified. Romans 6:6
3. We are alive to God. Romans 6:11
4. We can yield to God. Romans 6:13
5. We are the recipients of His grace. Romans 6:14-15
6. We are servants of righteousness. Romans 6:17-18
7. We can do the perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
To serve our Lord effectively we must learn to rely upon the Spirit of God. This is so essential, the Bible makes it clear that we cannot even begin to please God apart from the Spirit of God. Romans 8:8 says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Instead, we must learn to be Spirit filled.
The Indwelling
The Spirit of the living God takes up permanent residence within the life of the believer at the very moment of salvation Romans 8:9. The purpose of this indwelling is so that we can glorify God through our bodies. 1Corinthians 6:19-20 asks, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
The Filling
Although the indwelling of the Spirit is a one time permanent event that took place at salvation, the filling of the Spirit occurs numerous times in the life of the believer. Sometimes through sin we hinder what the Spirit of God desires to fulfill in our life. We can cause the Spirit to grieve because of our sin Ephesians 4:30. We can cause the work of the Spirit to be quenched because of our lack of obedience 1 Thessalonians 5:19. Instead of hindering the work of the Spirit we are called to be continually filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18.
The Empowering
As we are filled with the Spirit of God, we are empowered to do the work of the Lord. Ac 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me.”God’s empowering is His enabling to do His work.
Spirit Controlled Temperament
The objective of the believer is to be sensitive t the prompting of the Spirit in our lives. As we do so, He will reprove us (John 16:8), teach us truth (John 14:26), and lead us in the ways of righteousness (Galatians 5:18-25). Our temperament must come under the control of the Spirit. You are a mixture of the following temperaments with one of them being your dominant:
1. Sanguine: life of the party but often acts without thinking. (Example - Peter - Matthew 16:15-23)
2. Choleric: Born to lead but can lead to impatience and pride. (Example - Paul - 2 Corinthians 12:1-9)
3. Melancholy: Very detailed oriented but can be pessimistic. ( Example - Timothy - John 20:24-29)
4. Phlegmatic: Incredible faith but is often indecisive. (Example - Abraham Genesis 12:1-20)
When the Spirit of God comes to indwell the child of God, at salvation, He also equips that believer with certain spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts are given to equip the saint to serve effectually in the church, thus bringing great glory to God. There are four major passages in the Bible which teach us about these spiritual gifts. Please take the time to read them carefully. Romans 12:3-9, I Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30, Ephesians 4:7-16, 1 Peter 4:7-11 The passage in Ephesians gives us a couple of reason the Spirit has equipped the believer with spiritual gifts.
The perfecting of the saints 4:12
This word perfect does not mean without fault. As Christians we still sin, but we should be maturing to be more like Christ. Maturity is one of the reasons for the gifts. These gifts not only cause us to mature but also other believer to mature as well.
The work of the ministry 4:12
The Spirit of God has gifted us to serve one another through our local church.
The edification of the church 4:12
Edification means to help build up another believers holiness, wisdom, love and overall Christlike character.
The unity of faith 4:13
The Spirit of God is not divided so the church of Christ should be unified. The spiritual gifts are not given to cause separation but to foster unity.
Stability of the believer 4:14
With false teaching every where, the spiritual gifts help guard the foundations of our faith.
Built up in Love 4:15-16
We are taught in 1 Corinthians 13 that these gifts must be ministered with love. The Spirit not only teaches us to love Christ, and to love one another, but He also leads us to serve with our gift through love.
Spiritual Gifts for today
Below are the gifts of edification and service given to the church today.
1. Leadership - Romans 12:8
2. Administration - 1 Corinthians 12:28
3. Teaching - 1 Corinthians 12:28
4. Knowledge - 1 Corinthians 12:28
5. Wisdom - 1 Corinthians 12:28
6. Prophecy - 1 Corinthians 12:10
7. Discernment - 1 Corinthians 12:10
8. Exhortation - Romans 12:8
9. Pastor - Ephesians 4:11
10. Faith - 1 Corinthians 12:29
11. Evangelism - Ephesians 4:11
12. Missions - Ephesians 4:11
13. Service / Helps - Romans 12:27
14. Mercy - Romans 12:8
15. Giving - Romans 12:28
16. Hospitality - 1 Peter 4:9
Spiritual gift assessment: 
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Serving God is met with opposition from a very real enemy. The Bible warns us about our enemy and his evil work in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” As Christians “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” In order to stand in this fight, for what is right, there are a couple of truths we must know.
Jesus defeated our enemy
1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Through His death and resurrection, Jesus triumphed over all principalities and powers and He is has authority as the head over the enemy. Colossians 2:10-15
Jesus shows us how to defeat the enemy
In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was tempted of the devil to do wrong on three different occasions. Jesus, who is perfectly sinless, defeated the devil’s devious advances by being led of the Spirit 4:1. If we are going to prevail in this spiritual warfare we must learn we cannot do so in the strength of our own ability but only as we are led by the Spirit. On all three temptations, Jesus also used the truth of the Scripture to combat the distorted lies of the devil 4:4,7, 10. The truth of the Word of God plays a critical role in standing against the enemy. Last, once Jesus commanded the devil to depart, the devil had to flee 4:10. We do not have authority in ourselves to command the devil to do anything, but through Jesus Christ we can say no to the devil. 1 John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-18
Jesus has given us the strength we need to stand against the attacks of the devil. He tells us to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the methods of the devil. As armor is important in any battle, so too the armor of God is critical in the war against the devil.
1. Belt of truth 6:14
2. Breastplate of Righteousness 6:14
3. Shoes the Gospel of peace 6:15
4. Shield of faith 6:16
5. Helmet of Salvation 6:17
6. Sword of the Spirit 6:17
7. Don’t forget to PRAY!!! 6:18
A steward is a person entrusted with the wise use of another’s possessions. As stewards of the Lord, we have been entrusted with various gifts from the Lord to bring greater glory to our Lord. From the Lord we have received time, talents, and treasures not to use as we see fit, but rather to use in order that we might honor God. Psalm 24:1 declares, “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” As a steward we recognize that God owns everything and simply entrusts us to use what He has blessed us with to accomplish what pleases Him. We are also reminded the essential characteristic of a steward is faithfulness. 1Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” With the responsibility of a steward we can choose to be wise or foolish, faithful or unjust, obedient of rebellious.
The Faithful Steward
Luke 12:42-48
Jesus describes a steward as a servant. A steward is charged with being a faithful and wise, but faithful and wise with what? The responsibilities the lord has given, to distribute or use, the lord’s possession in accomplishing the lord’s purpose. This analogy applied to believer becomes real clear. Jesus is the Lord and we are the stewards. We own nothing but we are charged by our Lord to be faithful and wise with the possessions and task our Lord has given unto us for His honor. Everyone is a steward but not all are faithful and wise. Only the faithful and wise steward will be blessed of the Lord. All other stewards, will waste their life away squandering God’s resources and will one day give an account unto the Lord on the day of judgment. The more you have been given, the more is required, so be a faithful and wise steward.
Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30
From the parable of the talents we learn that each servant is given specific possessions of the Lord. Not everyone receives the same. The amount is not important, but what you do with it is the measure of being faithful or foolish. To use our talent faithfully we must first understand who our Lord is. The more we understand God the more we will use our talents the way He would have us to use them. We also must use the talents that we have. Don’t try to hide your talent or wish you had more or something else. Please God by using what you have as God sees fit. Last, we must use our talents in light of being accountable unto our Lord. There is coming a day where we will stand before God and answer this question, “What have you done with what the Lord has blessed you with?” A talent hidden is a life wasted. A talent invested is a life rewarded.
When it comes to serving God successfully, man defines success differently than the way God defines success. To serve God successfully we must learn to abide in Christ. From John 15, success does not so much look like being the first to climb the corporate ladder of success, as much as it looks like a ripe and healthy cluster of grapes. Success is accomplished as we learn to abide in Christ. Read John 15:1-17 a couple of time to understand how to be successful in God’s sight. By the way, there is only one person we have to please, and that is the Lord.
Principle of Abiding in Christ
The picture Jesus uses is that of a vineyard where the heavenly Father is the gardener, Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches tied to the vine and bearing much fruit. Abiding in Christ means to remain united in Christ by a dependent, living faith.
Evidences of Abiding in Christ
Just as the gardener can know the state of his vineyard through outward signs, so too we can know wether or not we are abiding in Christ. The first, and most obvious evidence is fruitfulness 15:2. This is not fruit that you have produced, it is fruit that Christ has produced through you. Second, we will experience purging 15:2. Our life will become more like Christ which requires us to allow Christ to cleanse out of our life those things that do not please Him. Third, we will have our prayers answered 15:7. Our prayers are answered because we pray according to His Word. Fourth, we will love Christ 15:9. A fervent, growing love for Christ is an unmistakable quality of abiding in Christ. Fifth, we will experience joy 15:11. True lasting joy is found in the simplicity of Christ Sixth, we will love fellow believers 15:12. If the love of Christ abides in us we will love what Christ loves.
Bearing Much Fruit
There are a few requirements if Christ is going to bear much fruit through us. First, we must be chosen of Christ 15:16. As Christ selects us to salvation He also appoints us to bear much fruit. Second, we must abide in Christ because apart from Him we are totally incapable of bearing any fruit. Third, we must be purged 15:2. We may not enjoy this cleansing bu the joy of Christ is worth it 15:2. Fourth, Christ’s words must abide in us 15:7. We must take time to put the Word of God into our lives. Fifth, we must continue in the love of Christ 15:9. Without the love of Christ we can accomplish nothing. Sixth, we must keep the commands of Christ 15:10. A fruitful Christian is an obedient Christian. Putting this plan into practice guarantees that you will not only bear fruit but that Christ will bear much fruit through you. Your success in life is found by simply abiding in Christ.
To encourage the believer in their service unto the Lord, the Bible teaches about eternal rewards. As you serve our Lord faithfully, you will “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” Matthew 6:20. We should not serve just to get the reward, but rather understand that as we serve our Lord will reward appropriately.
Judgment Seat of Christ
The believer will give an account of their service unto the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” All works will be tried by fire and only what is done for Jesus Christ will last.
The Rewarder
There is only one who is the giver of the rewards in Heaven and that one is the Lord our God. He is not a greedy God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us this truth about our God, “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” As we diligently seek after the Lord we also are taught how we should serve the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” One of the motives for serving Christ with all our heart is the reward of inheritance. The Bible concludes with this truth about our service unto the Lord “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” Revelation 22:12. When the Lord returns what type of reward will He give to us for our service?
Five Crowns
1. Crown of Glory - 1 Peter 5:2-4
2. Crown Incorruptible -1 Cor. 9:24-27
3. Crown of Life - James 1:12
4. Crown of Rejoicing - 1 Thess. 2:19-20
5. Crown of Righteousness - 2 Tim. 4:5-8
In Revelation 4:10-11, we are told what we will do with the rewards we have gained. “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
